examples of Kirsten's climate projects

Prepared a tool for estimating greenhouse gas emissions from individual LNG carriers taking specific journeys.  The tool takes the age of the carrier, the size of containment, and the propulsion system into account.  Prepared a manuscript, supporting information, and an emissions estimating tool that was published in peer-reviewed literature. The estimates are aligned with measurements taken by the ICCT after publication (https://theicct.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ID-64-%E2%80%93-FUMES-ships-Report-A4-60037-FV.pdf).  

Analyzed processes and emissions data about examining the potential to reduce greenhouse gas and air toxic emissions during chemical manufacture.  Four chemical manufacturing process changes at existing facilities were used as illustrations:  1) electrifying the crackers during ethylene manufacture, using the Equistar plant in Corpus Christi as an example; 2) producing hydrogen for use in making ammonia via electrolysis of water instead of the Haber-Bosch process, using CF Donaldsonville as an example; 3) ethylene glycol from syngas instead of from ethylene oxide, using the Indorama Ventures Oxides chemical plant in Port Neches as an example; and 4) hydroxyurethanes made from cyclic carbonates and polyfunctional amines instead of polyurethanes made from isocyanates, using the BASF facilities in Geismar as an example. Data on toxic emissions from the TRI were found to be less complete and less detailed than data from Clean Air Act reporting systems maintained by the states.  TRI-reported air toxics do not include important air toxics such as PM2.5.  Reductions in air toxics emissions local to the facility were observed for facilities with greatly reduced greenhouse gas emissions, largely because of reduced PM2.5 emissions. Prepared a report (“Examining the potential to reduce greenhouse gas and air toxic emissions during chemical manufacture”) that will be mounted on the EDF website (a draft version is available, if desired).  

Performed evaluations of the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from a set of proposed alternatives for a contractor to a multinational provider of computer products, services, and software.

For China’s National Institute of Clean-and-Low-Carbon Energy (NICE) (at UT):  Developed greenhouse gas inventory emission inventories and tools for comparing the climate impact of technology choices for energy supply chains (coal and imported liquefied natural gas, or LNG). This included emissions from resource extraction to processing to transport to power generation, as well as climate impacts resulting from creating the infrastructure required to replace coal-fired plants with natural gas-fired power plants fueled by LNG.  Relied on greenhouse gas emissions information from a variety of sources, including equipment manufacturer data, literature, the US Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, the US Greenhouse Gas Inventory, and the Texas Railroad Commission.  Went on to produce an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions from LNG infrastructure construction, and explored the importance of correctly assessing the time at which reduced emissions from the technology switch pay back the emissions from construction. Prepared a letter and three manuscripts with supporting information and a tool for calculating infrastructure construction payback time that were published in peer-reviewed literature.

Participated in an integrated energy efficiency assessment at a large refinery in the Los Angeles area.  This project included assessment of economics, including greenhouse gas credits available to California industries.  Recommended projects had short payback periods.  The analysis appears to have influenced the refinery to implement measures that will reduce their combustion of fuel gas by tens of millions of therms per year.  This project required analysis of large amounts of refinery data, along with plant tours and inspection of PI graphics, PFDs, and P&IDs.  Models and suggested instrumentation to provide a means of measurement and verification once each of the projects were installed was included. Work was conducted on behalf of a utility as part of an incentives program.

For PCH International, developed a beta version of a spreadsheet-based screening tool for worker safety facility auditors that combines auditor-identified information about materials used at manufacturing facilities, including their physical form, the temperature they are applied at, and whether they are sprayed, machined, or ground during use, with ingredient information tied to Globally Harmonized System hazard category assignments or unharmonized European Chemicals Agency data.  The tool also incorporates information about the volatility and concentration of ingredients, along with their potential to cause global climate change or ozone depletion.  The tool was created to help auditors identify the materials and processes that are the most important targets for reduction efforts when improving worker safety, and to help with identifying substitute materials.   

Contributed to an assessment of the life-cycle climate change potential of jet fuels produced from gasified biomass and coal (Fischer-Tropsch process) relative to jet fuel produced at conventional refineries.  Co-developed a model that estimated greenhouse gas emissions of the coal and biomass to liquids technology for different process configurations.  Created a model for predicting hydrocracker output for a given wax feedstock and select hydrocracker process conditions. This project showed that some options for producing synthetic paraffinic kerosene from gasified coal and biomass produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional refining processes for producing jet fuel.